MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina and Bolivia sign expansion of natural gas agreement

Cristina Kirchner and Bolivia president Evo Morales

Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner met Friday with her Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales and signed a deal that expands until 2026 the current gas-sharing bilateral agreement, which is expected to supply the Argentine Northeast.

After signing the agreement in Sucre, the Argentine Head of State highlighted the importance of the deal and the need of “sharing” the natural resources and “besides to pay fair prices for them.”

Referring to these kinds of deals, she said that “they help to keep the fraternity between the South American people.”

Bolivia and Argentina signed an addendum to the current contract that both countries agreed to in 2006, in which they established mutual guarantees of gas shipment, payments and investments.

Through this new agreement, Bolivia promised to expand its gas shipment to Argentina from the current daily five million square metres to some 27.7 million, which are expected to supply the future gas pipeline in the Argentine Northeast.

Besides, both presidents launched the project of the construction of the new gas pipeline “Juana Azurduy,” of almost 50 kilometres, from which 20 will join the Bolivian production fields to the Argentine borders, and the other 30 kilometres will lead to Salta's pipeline system.

The ceremony, in which the Bolivian Vice-President Álvaro García Linera and the Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana were also present, has been held at the Polo-gymnasium located in Sucre City.

Fernández de Kirchner's plane landed in Sucre, where she was met by the Bolivian Foreign Minister, David Choquehuanca. Before entering the presidential motorcade, she told the media she was “happy” to visit Bolivia since they were going to sign the great energy deals and because she could pay tribute to Juana Azurduy de Padilla, seen as a heroine by both countries after she fought in the independence wars against Spain.

After leaving the airport, Fernández de Kirchner was taken to the Liberty House, were Bolivia was founded, and where Congress offered a special session to honour her presence.